Help please! Rear light wiring...

[marinegirl]

Not long said 'hello' on the Welcome section - and I said it wouldn't be long before the questions started!

I'm trying to fit reversing sensors (I'm not used to having no back window!), and I need to connect the sensor power unit up to the reversing light.

I can get into the light panel, and it has 6 wires going into it - I can unclip the bit the wires go into from the main light unitwith the bulbs.

So, I have 4 bulbs (top to bottom, brake, indicator, reverse, sidelight) - but 6 wires. The 6 are numbered 1-6, but I can't see any corresponding numbering on the light unit.
My Haynes manual isn't forthcoming.

- any idea how I work out which wires go to the brake light?
- once I have, they're not held in with screws - what happens if I yank them out?!! Will they go back in? Do I just put the wire from the parking sensor in the same hole?

If anyone has done this - or has the remotest idea what I'm on about, all advice gratefully received!

It's a W reg 2000 2.5D - old shape, what Haynes would call 1986C-1999T.

Thanks!

[madvanman]

On that year van you should find a trailer wiring plug in the left side rear pillar below the rear light, (even if no towbar is fitted)
the wiring you need will be in this plug
- should be a violet wire you can connect the sensor wire to this using a 'scotch lock' connector
If you cant find the trailer wiring plug, the wire to the left hand rear light is violet, and to the right hand rear light it is violet with a black stripe.

[marinegirl]

Thanks for such a quick response! Just ran out to check - no trailer plug, unfortunately . Oh well!

[MrMPuk]

On that year van there will be a connection somewhere on the LH side near the back for the tailer plug wiring, not to sure where but it is there.

[DaiTheVan]

Hiya, I reckon from previous ones of these I've done, even if there isn't wiring for a trailer plug, just be ruthless in tracing the wire that goes to your reversing light, from what you've said you know which order they are in the cluster, just track that sucker down, make sure you're not following any earth connection that might come from it, and connect into that wire for your trigger signal - really shouldn't give you too much grief...

[DaiTheVan]

OK, just been tracking it through the Haynes.... the wire should be Black/Orange to either clusters reverse light, left or right; you should be able to take a live signal from either as soon as the reversing switch is closed

[DaiTheVan]

The wires to the brake lights should be Black/Red; careful coz the tail lights are Slate/Red I think slate is a posh word for grey, probably dark-ish
Good luck

[MrMPuk]

Not sure you're looking at the right year van as madvanman is right and the wires that marine girl wants are the violet ones.

[DaiTheVan]

you could be right

[DaiTheVan]

My bad, apologies to all, looking at older schematic; MrMPUk is right about Madvanman being right
D'oh

[marinegirl]

Made interesting reading though Dai - and thanks for your time in responding!
Had to work away all last week, so haven't had a chance to poke around yet...
New van came in very handy when I was locked out last night - mobile emergency bedroom! Fortunately I'd been intentionally sleeping in it the night before, so the inflatable mattress, duvet and pillow were all there!!
Had a big 'I love my van' moment on the doorstep last night, I can tell you!

[DaiTheVan]

Too flippin quick off the mark there I was

I've really missed having a van, sold my VW last year, so really pleased to get the Tranny at last - now I gotta get it kitted out ready for a run to Scotland at half-term hopefully. You're right - always somewhere to sleep, who needs hotels